Plug for wells



W. G. LONG PLUG FOR WELLS may M 9 l926 Filed June 30 1924 4Patented May l1, 1926. i

` more particularly to plugs expressly adapted Y UNITED STATES 1,583,982 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM e. Lone, `or TULSA, oxL'Anm.

PLUG FOR WELLS.

appumon med Time 3o,

L This inventlon relates to'certam new and useful improvements 1n plugs for wells and to be used in connection with oil and gas wells for plugginfr the well below the 011) producing sand and iswhat is known 1n the art as adry hole plug.

A'furt-her objectof the inventlon is ,to provide a plug which is formed of ductile material havinga peripheral groove in which is adapted to be arranged a packing so that when the ductile material forming the core of the plug is compressed, the packing is compressed so as to completely close the well. 1

A still further object of `the invention is to provide a yplug which when placed in position within a well and subjected to a series of impacts of the well drilling tool, the plug will expand so as to close the. Welland in connection withthe packing in the groove,

a Water-tight joint will be formed so as to cut off water atthe'desired point in the well. Other and further objects and advantages ofthe invention will be hereinafter set fort-h and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings,` y Figure P1 is a side elevation of avpklug constructed in accordance with my invention showingthe same. in a Well before being set; and Figure 2 is a similar view showing the plug set so as to completely close the well.

In carrying out my invention I employ7 a cylindrical body l having a peripheral spiral groove-2 formedintermediate its ends to pro- 'de a seat fora packingy'which is preferly formedx of lead wool, which is manufactured in coils in rope form and the packing is wound in the grooveand the ends cut ,f off ffl . 'lhef formation of the groove inthe body i provides heads 4 and 5 ,and when the body is lowered into the well with the packing in position,- the same can be readily set in the desired position by the well drilling tool.

` The body is preferably formed of malleable material, suchas lead, so that when it is subjected to a series of impacts, the malleable material will be compressed so as to decrease the diameter ofthe spiral groove,

which forces the packing material outwardly and as the bodyis compressed lengthwise, i

1924. Serial' N0. 723,257.

the diameter of thesame is increased `so that the hole of the well is `completely closed.

By forming 4the body of lead, the well drillingtool can be readily attached to the'l ends for lowering the same if desired and after the same has been lowered by raising the well drilling ,tool and allowing the same to drop so as'to deliver a series of impacts to the head `5, the malleable body will be expanded and at the same time the grooves` will be partlyr closed so as to expand the lead wool packing outwardly beyond the surface of the body sov as to produce a water tight joint.

grooves of other formations could be used,

While I have showna plug constructed4 vwith a spiral groove, I am aware thatV as my invention consists broadly in providgroove in its periphery) to` seen that I have provlded a dry hole plug for wells which can beused for plugging the lcasing or for plugging the hole below the casing and therefore I do'not wish to limit myself to the use of said plug at any desired point ,as I am aware that the same could be used in connection with a packer.

What I claim is f 1. A plug for wells comprising a circum-l v ferentially grooved body formed of malleable material, aY packing arranged within said groove, said body being adapted to be compressed to expand the body and compress the packing. material carried by the groove.

42. A plug for wells comprising a malleable e body having a spiralgroove and acord of packing material arranged within said groove. f

3. A `plug for oil Wells comprising a cylindrical body formed .of malleable material having a spiral groove-intermediate its ends, a strip of packing material arranged within said groove,- said body being; adapted to be compressed to increase the diameter thereof and to compress the packing in said groove beyondv the periphery of said plug.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my y signature. n t

c. Lone.

los 

